No Freedom Of Speech In Bengal? Actors, Filmmakers Protest Against TMC Government’s Ban On ‘Bhobishyoter Bhoot’

Filmmakers, artistes and movie enthusiasts hit the streets yesterday (10 March) in protest against the West Bengal government for the latter’s alleged role in forcing a withdrawal of director Anik Dutta’s film ‘Bhobishyoter Bhoot’ from cinema halls across the city, reports The Indian Express.

Those leading the demonstration were veteran actor Soumitra Chatterjee, director Buddhadeb Dasgupta, Indian-American film and TV actor Jayant Kriplani, among other notable Tollywood personalities.

Many participants of the march were seen wearing skeleton and ghost masks with slogans calling for the government to give an explanation for the de facto ban on the movie.

Only a day after its release, the film was pulled from theatres across Kolkata on 16 February. The film is a political satire which uses dark humour to raise several important issues.

“I am surprised to see the response of the people who have come here and supported the cause. I thank them all,” said Dutta.

Calling the banning of a film which had been cleared by the speech an action violative of freedom of speech, actor-director Aparna Sen drew a comparison of the present situation with the protests that had taken place in the aftermath of the Nandigram killings under the communist government.

“We had hit the streets when people were killed in Nandigram under the previous government. We will also hit the streets every time someone tries to throttle the freedom of speech,” she stated.